Will the Tánaiste acknowledge that I say here without equivocation that Sinn Féin is a party that rejects criminality of any kind and that no republican worthy of the name can be involved in criminality? Will she note that I go further and state that if there are within this party people who are involved in criminal acts, then they should leave our ranks immediately? Will she note that I say that there is no room in Sinn Féin for other than a clear and unambiguous commitment to democratic politics and the pursuit of our goals by legal and peaceful means? Will the Tánaiste acknowledge that the members, elected representatives and supporters of this party are entitled to the same respect due to all citizens, to the presumption of innocence and not to be damned and demonised? Does the Tánaiste recognise that in a climate such as this, efforts are being made to spread guilt by innuendo, guilt by association and guilt because of the political views of people and not because of anything they have done? Will the Tánaiste note that while it would be easy at this time to devote all our energies to the war of words, remain on the defensive and be distracted from our purpose and pursuits, I have chosen instead to spell out clearly our responsibility to address any and every matter that requires our address? Will the Tánaiste and the House note that if republicans have issues to address, we will address them? If republicans are involved in any activity that besmirches the name of Irish republicanism in any way, they should cease such activity immediately. Any and all activity that falls outside the norms of legitimate political action should cease forthwith.

Will the Tánaiste and the House accept that Sinn Féin is as determined as ever to take whatever hard decisions must be taken to move the peace process forward? Will the Tánaiste note our determination to continue to play the role we have played in helping to create this process, helping to bring about the cessations and helping to bring about the Good Friday Agreement and all that has flowed from it? We intend to pursue actively and achieve the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, with all that entails.

I would like to acknowledge all of that, but I will certainly not engage in a convenient fiction for the purpose of responding to Deputy Ó Caoláin. The reality is that many members of Sinn Féin, perhaps all the Deputies from that party, do not believe it is a crime to murder a mother and did not believe it was a crime to murder Detective Garda Jerry McCabe or to attempt to murder Detective Garda Ben O'Sullivan. That is a fact. For a party that does not recognise the Garda Síochána, it seems very keen to use Garda uniforms when it gets a chance to do so. Nobody is more eager than me to see Sinn Féin come fully into the democratic political system, but its members cannot have it every way. They have got away with it for too long and patience is running out. Quite honestly, some of us are getting sick of the antics of Deputy Ó Caoláin's party.

The Tánaiste was always sick——

The Tánaiste has demonstrated again that she does not have the necessary skills. She did not listen to what another Deputy carefully said in the House. It is regrettable that the Taoiseach is not here. Although she has never attended a meeting that was key and critical to the development of the peace process, the Tánaiste is acting again as judge and jury on Sinn Féin and she would love to be the executioner.

You are the executioners.

What is Conor Cruise saying?

You are the executioners.

I ask——

The Deputy belongs with Conor Cruise O'Brien, who is now a Unionist.

What about Tom Oliver?

Conor Cruise.

I ask my colleague to allow me to speak. I ask the Tánaiste to listen to me carefully. While it may be difficult for her to acknowledge, will she at least note Sinn Féin's determination to see all guns taken out of Irish politics?

Including those of the Workers Party.

I will not note the sniggers from other benches, because the hands of the mortals who are sneering are not as clean as they would wish them to be. Sinn Féin is determined to play a part in the collective effort to create the conditions in which the IRA will cease to exist. Will the Tánaiste accept that republicans have taken many difficult decisions during the peace process? Does she accept that the Sinn Féin leadership has moulded a political strategy that has brought the vast majority of republicans away from physical force? That process has not ended — Sinn Féin is determined that it will be brought to a successful conclusion by both Governments and all parties which are interested in that purpose and intent.

I ask the Tánaiste to note that my colleague, Deputy Ó Snodaigh, has stated categorically that he has no knowledge of, and was in no way connected with, any of the activity for which four people were convicted yesterday. I ask her to note again that I have made it clear on the floor of the House that my fellow Sinn Féin Deputies and I reject the brutal murder of Robert McCartney. We have called on anyone who can assist the McCartney family to do so. I wish to make it very clear, not only for the ears of the Tánaiste but also for the ears of all whom this statement addresses, that Sinn Féin is absolutely opposed to intimidation of any form.

Sinn Féin is the only party in this House that can take away the guns because nobody else has guns.

That is not the case.

It is in the hands of Sinn Féin.

That is not the truth.

If its members want to get the guns out of Irish politics, it is their decision.

Other parties have guns.

No other party in Leinster House has guns.

The Tánaiste should tell the truth.

The Tánaiste, without interruption.

I would like to acknowledge that huge efforts have been made by many people during the peace process. Nobody has made a greater effort than the Taoiseach and many of the parties in this House, including Deputy Ó Caoláin's party. We need to go much further if we want to achieve success, which could have been achieved last December if Sinn Féin and its associates had been prepared to sign up to an end to criminality——

And be humiliated.

——in all its forms, in line with the Good Friday Agreement.

An end to violence——

I ask the Deputy to allow the Tánaiste to continue.

When Deputy Ó Snodaigh's election agent was convicted, he attacked the Special Criminal Court.

I was my own election agent.

I do not think that is compatible with membership of this House.

The Tánaiste is telling an untruth.

Deputy, as it is Leaders' Questions, only Deputy Ó Caoláin is allowed to ask a supplementary question.

The Tánaiste is misleading the House.

She is misleading the House.

It is better than misleading herself.

I ask the Deputies to extend to the Tánaiste——

The Tánaiste is misleading the House.

——the same courtesy that she extended to them.

I have concluded.